More than 100 people gathered in Mason Hall’s Edwin Meese Conference Room at George Mason University to hear veteran journalist and former host of the PBS NewsHour Jim Lehrer reflect upon his career. He dazzled his audience with an array of informative, educational and downright entertaining stories.
“Conversation with Jim Lehrer: Reflections on a Career in Journalism,” resembled a fireside-style interview between Lehrer and Jack Censer, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Mason President Angel Cabrera and Mason wrestler Matt Stull (Lehrer’s great nephew) introduced the participants.
The program got underway with a tribute video – a nod to Lehrer’s 54 years in journalism – which set a tone for the afternoon with dashes of humor, including Lehrer’s appearance on The Colbert Report and an awkward exchange with Senator John McCain during a 2008 presidential debate. Lehrer discussed his work history, his experiences moderating presidential debates, the transformation of the news media, political gridlock, fiction writing, and a host of other issues. He also answered questions submitted to him from the audience.
One of Censer’s first questions centered around the 2012 presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney, and the perception that Lehrer’s light touch in moderating the debate allowed the two candidates to run roughshod over debate rules.
“My goal in the 2012 debate was to get the candidates to look at each other and engage with each other [in conversation],” Lehrer said. “As long as they were talking about something that mattered to the public, I would let them talk.”
He added that he purposely did not pay attention to who seemed to be “winning” the debate, as he did not want to judge content or make any decision for the audience. That said, Lehrer acknowledged the performance aspect of the presidential debates, recalling President George H.W. Bush looking at his watch in 1992, Vice President Al Gore audibly sighing in 2000, and McCain not directly addressing Obama in 2008. He identified these instances as tide-turning moments in their respective elections.
Lehrer also discussed the future of journalism and how the PBS NewsHour related to today’s expanded sources of instantly available news. Lehrer charted a direct future for the NewsHour, calling the show a “second responder.”
“It used to be that there was a shared set of facts that everyone had when they came to a political juncture,” Lehrer said, referring to the two or three nightly news broadcasts that had been traditional and exclusive news outlets. “Now, there is a need for more curating of information and the news.”
He added, “The ability to be well-informed has never been better, but it is not easy.”
The event was co-hosted by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Mason Wrestling and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Lehrer was invited to Mason by his great nephew Stull.
April 12, 2013